Monthly Archives: August 2015

Nibits for Newbies 8.30.15 & a FREEBIE

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Nibits for Newbies 8.29.15

If it’s SUNDAY….
IT’S
Nibits for Newbies!
This week….
Keeping IT  Clean!
So..WHO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SCHOOL PERSON YOU NEED TO KNOW?
( OK…AFTER  the Secretary!)
THE   JANITOR!
This is the person who can help make your life easier…
 moving desks, tables, etc, etc..AND
KEEPING YOUR CLASSROOM
DUST FREE
BUG & MAMMAL FREE
and
GERM FREE!
( LOTS of GERMS on tables, floors, deks, etc..etc )
These little “creatures” can make kids stay home,
can RUIN the best lesson ( if no one is there..the lesson has to be done AGAIN..
or the absolute worst…
THEY CAN MAKE THE TEACHER SICK!
SUB PLANS???   NOOOOOO!!!!!!
So…Let’s worktogether to keep our classroom CLEAN!
So here is MY THEORY..
Our janitor only has “X” amount of minutes to clean MY room!
I want him to spend the MAXIMUM amount of time
cleaning the stuff
my students & I  cannot!
TEAMWORK!
So..I have 2 helpers each day who are the
CLEAN UP  CREW
(This sample is available for FREE..click HERE!)
Their job
 (while the rest of us are at the carpet listening to AUTHOR’S  CHAIR)
is to stack ALL chairs into stacks of 6…
to pick up ANYTHING on the floor ( under tables & desks)
AND
to use the push carpet sweeper to clean the floor!
THEN…..EVERY FRIDAY we
DE-GERM our classroom!
We take papertowels & SANITIZER
YES…SANITIZER
And wipe ALL surfaces!
I MEAN ALL!
Tables, desks, student whiteboards, chairs, pencils ( I know… “germy fingers” )
THE DOOR, pencil sharpeners…EVERYTHING!
WHY???
Because…I want my students to
TAKE  RESPONSIBILITY  for  their  ENVIRONMENT!
You “live here’ …YOU  ‘clean it!”
THEY  LOVE  IT!
Then..after we leave..
the janitor can spend his time doing DEEP cleaning…whiteboards, dusting, windows, windowblinds…
stuff I can’t get to & the kids cannot either!
Monday Morning….CLEAN CLASSROOM!
( I LOVE to start the week with a clean classroom!)
So…make friends with your janitor.
Keep your classroom CLEAN.
Get your kids involved!
After all…RULE # 5….KEEP YOUR TEACHER  HAPPY!
🙂

Nibits for Newbies 8.29.15

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If it’s SUNDAY….
IT’S
Nibits for Newbies!
This week….
Keeping IT  Clean!
So..WHO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SCHOOL PERSON YOU NEED TO KNOW?
( OK…AFTER  the Secretary!)
THE   JANITOR! 
This is the person who can help make your life easier…
 moving desks, tables, etc, etc..AND  
KEEPING YOUR CLASSROOM
DUST FREE
BUG & MAMMAL FREE
and
GERM FREE!
( LOTS of GERMS on tables, floors, deks, etc..etc )
These little “creatures” can make kids stay home, 
can RUIN the best lesson ( if no one is there..the lesson has to be done AGAIN..
or the absolute worst…
THEY CAN MAKE THE TEACHER SICK!
SUB PLANS???   NOOOOOO!!!!!!
So…Let’s worktogether to keep our classroom CLEAN!
So here is MY THEORY..
Our janitor only has “X” amount of minutes to clean MY room!
I want him to spend the MAXIMUM amount of time 
cleaning the stuff 
my students & I  cannot!
TEAMWORK!
So..I have 2 helpers each day who are the 
CLEAN UP  CREW
(This sample is available for FREE..click HERE!)

Their job
 (while the rest of us are at the carpet listening to AUTHOR’S  CHAIR)
is to stack ALL chairs into stacks of 6…
to pick up ANYTHING on the floor ( under tables & desks)
AND 
to use the push carpet sweeper to clean the floor!
THEN…..EVERY FRIDAY we
DE-GERM our classroom!
We take papertowels & SANITIZER
YES…SANITIZER
And wipe ALL surfaces!
I MEAN ALL!
Tables, desks, student whiteboards, chairs, pencils ( I know… “germy fingers” )
THE DOOR, pencil sharpeners…EVERYTHING!
WHY???
Because…I want my students to 
TAKE  RESPONSIBILITY  for  their  ENVIRONMENT!
You “live here’ …YOU  ‘clean it!”
THEY  LOVE  IT!

Then..after we leave..
the janitor can spend his time doing DEEP cleaning…whiteboards, dusting, windows, windowblinds…
stuff I can’t get to & the kids cannot either!
Monday Morning….CLEAN CLASSROOM!
( I LOVE to start the week with a clean classroom!)
So…make friends with your janitor.
Keep your classroom CLEAN.
Get your kids involved!
After all…RULE # 5….KEEP YOUR TEACHER  HAPPY!
🙂

CLICK HERE

Countdown to…CHRISTMAS! Are YOU ready???

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Countdown to…CHRISTMAS! Are YOU ready???

I know…BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Folks..
LIFE IS BUSY!
Sorry to be the one to tell you that.
BUT…
123 days …from TODAY  (8.23.15)
17  SUNDAYS!
YES!  17!!!
I  LOVE CHRISTMAS!
So??
 How  to  get  ready??
PACE YOURSELF!
Think
MARATHON…NOT  SPRINT!
So where to start?
Make LISTS!
(I  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE   LISTS! )
List ALL ( YES ALL ) of the people you
WOULD LIKE to give gifts to.
Now…
PUT A STAR next to the people you MUST give a gift to.
(I know that sounds weird..but..I would LOVE to give gifts to
EVERYONE…but…my bank account says I must prioritize).
$$
It doesn’t mean I won’t give a gift…
just might be a “thoughtful”… not-as-costly gift.
Reality people!
If money grew on trees…
DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!
 So…there are officially  4 more PAYCHECKS until Christmas.
( Or figure out HOW many PAYCHECKS YOU have until DEC. 24 )
Take the number of gifts YOU MUST purchase
and divide by paychecks!
That tells you HOW many GIFTS you MUST purchase per check.
That’s important because
 now you can begin looking for a gift
for the PERSON…not just a checkoff on a list.
SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!
Now….start talking, texting, asking others…
DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!
ASK!!!!
 What items do the people on your list WANT…NEED…LOVE?????
Add this to your LIST!
( If for kids…ASK THEIR PARENTS…sizes, likes, ages,etc )
Now…start looking…
online? Look for FREE shipping!
(AMAZON PRIME ..I am speed dial!)
Friends & Family …FAR AWAY???  ( Sorry )
SHIP TO THEM!
Don’t ship to YOU & then pay to ship to them!
SHIP  DIRECTLY! FREE!
STOP!
YOU HAVE NOT MADE A BUDGET YET!
Figure out what you can spend..
AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.
They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!
Your kids COME FIRST!
And NOT going into SEVERE debt!
Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!
NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!
OK..then..start listing whom you will purchase for..each paycheck!
After you purchase…keep the receipt!
I write the name of the person I purchased it for on the back..
RETURNS?  Easy Peasy!
After you purchase…
or  it arrives from SANTA’S HELPER
 IN THE BROWN UPS TRUCK… 🙂
WRAP IT  AND   ATTACH  A  NAME  TAG!
( This from a Santa’s Helper…who has forgotten..)
Around Thanksgiving..
I begin to look at my
LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”..
but NOT necessarily,
 “Must Purchase For”
on my list!
 ( Yes I keep it in a little book in my purse! )
Now I have a better idea of “extras”…
Do I need to do “homemade”….giftcards…..”I thought of you- but have no $$ left” card?
Whatever fits YOU!
RELAX!
NO  GUILT!
Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!
It’s about telling the people you care about..
THEY ARE IMPORTANT…TO YOU!
Enjoy the season.
Spend time with friends & family!
TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!
Make Memories!
And when JANUARY comes around..
SMILE!
(And maybe  a mani / pedi  for  yourself?)
But…remember…
Have FUN!  🙂
What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????

Countdown to…CHRISTMAS! Are YOU ready???

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I know…BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Folks..
LIFE IS BUSY!
Sorry to be the one to tell you that.
BUT…
123 days …from TODAY  (8.23.15)
17  SUNDAYS!
YES!  17!!!
I  LOVE CHRISTMAS!


So??  
 How  to  get  ready??
PACE YOURSELF!
Think 
MARATHON…NOT  SPRINT!
So where to start?
Make LISTS!
(I  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE   LISTS! )
List ALL ( YES ALL ) of the people you 
WOULD LIKE to give gifts to.
Now…
PUT A STAR next to the people you MUST give a gift to.
(I know that sounds weird..but..I would LOVE to give gifts to
EVERYONE…but…my bank account says I must prioritize).
$$
It doesn’t mean I won’t give a gift…
just might be a “thoughtful”… not-as-costly gift.
Reality people!

If money grew on trees…
DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

 So…there are officially  4 more PAYCHECKS until Christmas.
( Or figure out HOW many PAYCHECKS YOU have until DEC. 24 )
Take the number of gifts YOU MUST purchase 
and divide by paychecks!
That tells you HOW many GIFTS you MUST purchase per check.
That’s important because
 now you can begin looking for a gift
for the PERSON…not just a checkoff on a list.
SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!
Now….start talking, texting, asking others…
DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!
ASK!!!!  
 What items do the people on your list WANT…NEED…LOVE?????
Add this to your LIST!
( If for kids…ASK THEIR PARENTS…sizes, likes, ages,etc )
Now…start looking…
online? Look for FREE shipping! 
(AMAZON PRIME ..I am speed dial!)
Friends & Family …FAR AWAY???  ( Sorry )
SHIP TO THEM!
Don’t ship to YOU & then pay to ship to them!
SHIP  DIRECTLY! FREE!
STOP!
YOU HAVE NOT MADE A BUDGET YET!
Figure out what you can spend..
AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.
They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!
Your kids COME FIRST!
And NOT going into SEVERE debt!
Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!
NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!
OK..then..start listing whom you will purchase for..each paycheck!
After you purchase…keep the receipt! 
I write the name of the person I purchased it for on the back..
RETURNS?  Easy Peasy!
After you purchase…
or  it arrives from SANTA’S HELPER
 IN THE BROWN UPS TRUCK… 🙂
WRAP IT  AND   ATTACH  A  NAME  TAG!
( This from a Santa’s Helper…who has forgotten..)
Around Thanksgiving..
I begin to look at my 
LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”..
but NOT necessarily, 
 “Must Purchase For”
on my list!
 ( Yes I keep it in a little book in my purse! )
Now I have a better idea of “extras”…
Do I need to do “homemade”….giftcards…..”I thought of you- but have no $$ left” card?
Whatever fits YOU! 
RELAX!   
NO  GUILT!  
Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!
It’s about telling the people you care about..
THEY ARE IMPORTANT…TO YOU!
Enjoy the season.
Spend time with friends & family!
TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!
Make Memories!
And when JANUARY comes around..
SMILE!
(And maybe  a mani / pedi  for  yourself?)
But…remember…
Have FUN!  ðŸ™‚
What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????


Nibits for Newbies 8.23.15 & FREEBIE

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If it’s SUNDAY…
it’s time for 

NIBITS FOR NEWBIES!
This week….
BLURTING!

You know…
You are in the middle of a great lesson,
AND WHAM!
THAT KID…that kid did it AGAIN!
HE YELLS  squeaks BLURTS out a comment
( it may or may not, have anything to do with what we are doing now!)
HE   BLURTS!  LOUD!
( And sometimes…he BLURTS out the WRONG ANSWER…
And I have to START ALL OVER AGAIN!
UGH!
So ..what to do? What to do???????
I start with a one-to-one discussion. 
( Maybe he/she doesn’t realize they are doing it???)
I give the child the benefit of the doubt…FIRST
THEN…..
BLURT CARDS!
HUH?

Yes! Blurt Cards!
I tally each time the child BLURTS in class.
The card is taped to the child’s desk for a visual reminder.
I use it for tracking…
I make notes as to “TRIGGERS” and times/lessons that may be excellerating the BLURTS.
 And then I look for patterns.
 ( Does the child blurt only during whole class lessons…
after lunch more than before lunch…etc..etc..)
I am trying to see if there is ANYTHING I can do to help STOP
the child before they start!
I use the blurt cards for parent conferences, IST’s, interventions…
DOCUMENTATION!
So to you my friends…
Here are your 
FREE
Blurt cards!
(I HOPE YOU DON’T NEED THEM!)
HAHAHA

It’s a GIVEAWAY! And a LINKY! WOW!

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I am linking up with my friend
Amanda
from 
Daisy Designs
for her Blog Re-launch & 500 follower GIVEAWAY!
YIPPEEE!!!!
LOOK at ALL of the GOODIES! 
 WOW!

You NEED to enter!
Look at those PRIZES!
The Giveaway ends August 30!
ENTER THEM ALL!!!  
Here is MY donation:
My  September MEGA BUNDLE!
6 September Packets in one MEGA BUNDLE!

Bundle Includes:

Fact Families Apple Booklet
What’s Missing September TASK Cards
Back to School Word Work
What Am I? September Preview/Review Game
Sweet Rhymes
SLANT Posters

ALL packets are available seperately:

OK….GO ENTER THEM ALL! 🙂   GOOD LUCK!
Check out ALL of the Prizes in the LINKY, too! 

Reorganizing my day..again..& a FREEBIE!

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  I feel like every day is DAY 1.
Something new starts every day.
I am BTS.
New school year, new bunch of kiddos…
Good group! Ready to learn!
Back to School night …DONE! Really good turn out too!
So..I am REorganizing my day..again.
I need to get them reading.
Guided reading at the table with me.
BUT…
WHAT ARE THE OTHER KIDS DOING???
Here are my lesson plans wish list from June :
Not too much …just enough…
Today???   WOW!

Things got a LITTLE busier! 
WOWZA!
Every Minute of EVERY day is taken up! 
Whew!
 Gotta make sure I have my running shoes on!
So..as I “CHANGE” again..
I am changing the way my kiddos do centers.
I don’t want to STOP my reading table to MOVE kids to another center.
I am doing
MUST DO’s & May DO’s.
( You must do these…before you can do those!)
Today, I made ICON pictures of our REAL items for MUST DO’s.

As I put their MUST DO list on the doc camera…now I have pictures to go with them!
Maybe foster a LITTLE INDEPENDENCE!
I need to read at the table!
(Helping them gain some independence while managing their time.)
So ..I  may be changing up things again!
Who knows!
If it helps us have more GUIDED READING TIME…I’m IN!
Here is a freebie for YOU to help gain some much needed
GUIDED READING TIME!
(Click on pic)
If you like this FREEBIE…
The ENTIRE Packet is available in my TPT store!
Click on Picture to check it out! 🙂
Have a great week!
Who Knows?
I might be changing things..
 NEXT WEEK! 🙂

  

Nibits for Newbies 8.16.15

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Nibits for Newbies 8.16.15

If it’s Sunday…
It must be
This week…..
GAMES!
Do you play games in your classroom?
I HOPE SO!
What a better way to practice academic skills & strategies.
The BEST way to learn social skills of sharing, taking turns, winning and losing.
AND..most importantly….
IT BUILDS YOUR CLASSROOM COMMUNITY!
I also have the children make their OWN games..
We play the “matching” game..A LOT!
Use spelling words, vocabulary words, math facts…whatever!
I give 1/2 the class 1 sheet of colored paper.
I give the other half  1 sheet of colored paper, too BUT a different color!
We fold it into 8 rectangles.
EVERYONE writes the same words on their paper.
THEN…cut the cards apart!
When we are ready…find a partner
 WITH   DIFFERENT COLORED PAPER!
Turn over all of  the cards. Pick one of YOURS, then choose one of your partners!
( With different colored papers…no mistaking whose is whose)
When game “time” ( set  a timer ) is done..pick up YOUR cards!
(No mixing them up!)
Take the cards HOME & PRACTICE!
Here WE ARE at WORK:
I hope you play games!
Have FUN!